Drawbar buffer



Sept. 14 ,.1926.

F; L. BARBER DRAWBAR BUFFER Filed August 2'4. 192s Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED stares rarsN'r oFFicE.

FRANKLIN L. BARBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD CAR TRUCK I.

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DRAWBAR BUFFER.

Application led August 24, 1923.

This invention relates to a drawbar buffer, such as now commonly used on railway'cars. In the patent granted to John C. Barber May 25th, 1920, No. 1,341,455, a structure ot drawbar butter was disclosed in which said butler has its forward end in the shape of a yoke embracing the coupler shank, which shank was supported on a bracket universally movable and in 'a substantially horizontal plane and hung from said buifer on swinging rods or bolts. The butler body and said bracket were provided vwith receSses accommodating the swinging movements of the bolts. The nuts commonly used on the bolts have, in practice, been secured by cotter pins passing through said bolts. It has been found, in practice, however, that the cotter pins sometimesl break or are lost out and the sii/'inging movement of said bracket and bolts resulting in rotation ot the bolts andnuts s0 that the nuts are moved on or lost from the bolts and the support for the bracket which. holds the coupler shank is thus changed or entirely removed.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a structure similar to that disclosed in the above patent in which, however, the supporting bolts for the bracket which supports the coupler shank have thereon means for preventing relative rotation oft the bolts, or nuts, with buffer body and bracket.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such means carried by the bolts both adjacent their headed portions and adjacent the Inuts thereon.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide such means comprising semi-spherical members seated, respectively, on the butler body and said bracket, which members have means thereon engaging the bolt heads and the nuts on the bolts, respectively, and which also engage the buffer body and said bracket, respectively.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connec- Serial No. 659,117.

tion with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the y same parts throughout the ditterent views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation showing the drawbar buffer and the parts of the car to which the same is attached with the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows; l

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of one of the parts used;y and Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the channel and sill ot the railway car is designated as 1 on which is carried the buffer member 2.

The member 2 is formed with a central yokelike part comprising the side portions 3 and the top portion 4, which parts are reinforced or madeheavier in cross section, the sides 3 comprising comparatively narrow portions against which the coupler shank 5 is adapted to contact' in its swinging movement. The buffer 2 comprises, at each side of said yoke, bosses 6 provided at their upper ends with semi-spherical surfaces 8 in which seat semi-spherical members 7, which members are apertured to receive and carry the bolts 9 passing therethrough and through downwardly flaring recesses 10 in the bosses 6. The nuts 11 support other semi-spherical members 7 similar to the members 7 above mentioned, which latter members are seated in semi-spherical recesses formed in the sides of a bracket member 13 extending between said bolts having a recess portion in which seats the coupler shank 5, which shankis thus supported by said bracket. Above the semi-spherical recess therein the bracket 13 is provided with upwardly Haring openings 14 through which the bolts 9 pass. The buffer body 2 adjacent the tops of the bosses 6 is provided with an outwardly projecting lug having` formed therein 'a recess 15 and the upper members 7 have a laterally projecting pin or lug,` 1G which seats loosely in said recess. Said members 7 also have an upwardly proj ectm g segmental portion 17 thereon having' a flat inner surface which lies closely adjacent one Hatside of the heads of the bolts 9. The bracket 13 also has formed at each side thereof a recess 18 and the pin 16 on the lower member 7 'is disposed loosely in said recess. The lower members 7, likewise, have the segmental portions 17 with the flat shoulder forming surface thereon, which surface lies close to one flat side of the nuts 11.

1n operation, the coupler shank, as stated, is supported on the swinging bracket 1.8 and said bracket is perinitted to have umversal swinging moven'ient substantially in a horizontal plane., thus accommodating all movements Lof .the coupler shank 5. rilie coupler shank moves with the bracket 'i3 `and all wear between the coupler shank and its support is thus eliminated and the wear on the coupler knuckles is, by the movement of the coupler and its shank, thus greatly lessened. The fiat surfaces on the portion 17 of the upper members 7 prevents any relative rotation of `the bolts and said members and the projection 16 on the members 7 will .eneage with the sides of the recess 15 in any considerable movement of the members 7 and will prevent any relative rotation between said members and the buffer body.. The projection 16 normally does not engage the `sides of the recess 15 and vin any forward and rearward movement of theV bracket 18 and bolts 9, said projection will merely swing through a small arc in a forward and rear-ward direction. The said projection also normally does not engage thebottom of the recess 15 and in any lateral swinging' of the bracket 18 and bolts 9 .said projection will merely have a short lip-and-down rocking movement. The bolts 9 and the brackets 18, of course, swing about the semi-spherical vsurfaces on the members `7 and in the butter body and bracket, respectively. The flat surfaces on the portions 17 on the lower members 7 will engage the flat surfaces of the nuts 11 and prevent any relative rotation between the members and nuts while the projection 1G on the lower member 7 will, if moved to any considerable extent, engage the walls of the recess 18 and prevent any relative rotation of the members 7 and bracket 13. The projection 1G on the lower members 7 normally-is iout of Contact with the walls of recess 18 so that all movements of the bracket and bolts will be accommodated. It should ,be noted that the bracket 13 norrally is spaced below the bottom of the buffer body 6. The bracket can therefore be raised and the nuts 11 adjusted as desired, and the Cotter pins (not shown) placed in the openiiio's 12 after which the bracket can be alloive to descend to its normal position bringing; the projection 16 'nto the recesses and tlie flat surface of segments 17 in prexin'iity to the tiet surfaces of the nuts 11. it is thus seen that any rotative movenient of the bolts i) is prevented and there no danger of the nuts 11 moving on the bolts t) or moving oil of the same. rl`lie cotter pins will "us not be broken or sheared oli' or if the same be lost the nuts will still not be lost oil' the bolts. A very secure and safe structure of bulier and coupler shank carrying bracket is thus secured. Vifhe iiieii'ibers can be easily east. and the recesses; 15 and 18 can easily be cast in the members (i and 153, respectively. The invention an thus be applied to the butter and its piits with practically no additional expense. ',ilie parts of the device are easily and quickly assembled and installed on the car.

lt will, of course, be understood, that various changes may be made in the form, arrar ent, details and proportions of the parts without departingv from the scope of appli ant7s invention, which, generally stated, con ts in a device capable of carrying out the objects above stated and such as shown, described and set forth in the apjjiended claims.

Vliat claimed is:

1. fr drawbar buffer having a body yokelike in section and embracing` a coupler shank, a vbracket underlying` said body and supporting,l the coupler shank, a pair of bolts havingi a universal connection kwith said bracket for supporting said bracket from the bulli'ei for universal movement substantially in a horizontal plane, and means on said bolts engaging said buli'er body to prevent relative rotation of said bolts and said bulier body.

2. fr drawbar buffer -liaving ,T a body yokelike in cross section and embracing a coupler sliank, a bracket underlying said body and supporting' the coupler shank, and a pair of bolts having' a universal. swinging' connection with botl said body and bracket suj'iportinn' said bracket frolin the buffer for iiniiersal movement substantially in a horizontal plane, nuts on said bolts supporting' said bracket, and means for preventing,` relative rotation of said nuts and bracket. Y "1 drawbar bnlii'er having a body yokein cross section and embracing acoulike pler shank, va bracket underlvine said bodv and siippoiiingi the coupler shank, and a relative rotation of said bolts and' body, nuts on said bolts and means onsaid bolts -engaging said bracket to prevent relative rotation of said nuts and bracket.

fl.` A draWbar buffer having a body yokelike in cross section and embracing a coupler shank, a bracket underlying said body and -supporting the coupler shank, a pair of headed and nutted bolts supporting said bracket from the buffer for universal movement substantially in a horizontal plane, said bolts having adjacent the heads members having semi-spherical surfaces seated in correspondingly formed recesses in the top of said body, said members each having a flat surface lying adjacent a flat surface on the head of its bolt to prevent relative rotation of said bolt and member, and each of said members also having a laterally extending projection disposed in a recess formed in said body to prevent relative rotation of said members and body.

5. A dravvbar buffer having a body yokelike in cross section and embracing a coupler shank, a bracket underlying said body and supporting the coupler shank, a pair4 of headed and nutted bolts supporting said bracket from the buffer for universal swinging movement substantially in a horizontal plane, said bolts having thereon adjacent the nuts thereon members With semi-spherical surfaces seated in correspondingly formed recesses in the bottom of said bracket, said members each having a flat surface lying adjacent the flat surface on its nut to prevent relative rotation of said nut and member and each of said members also having a laterally extending projection disposed in a recess formed in said bracket to prevent relative rotation of said members and bracket,

6. A device of the class described comprising, a headed bolt adapted to support a member thereon, a supporting means carrying said bolt, a member on said bolt adjacent its head contacting said means and supporting said head, said last mentioned member having a fiat surface lying close to a flat surface on said head and having a laterally projecting portion disposed in a recess formed in said supporting means.

7. A device of the class described, com-- prising a supporting' bolt, means carried on said bolt, a nut on said bolt, a member on said bolt supported by said nut and contacting said means having a flat surface lying close to a flat surface on said nut and having a lateral projecting portion disposed in a recess in said means to prevent relative rotation of said nut, member and means.

8. A device of the class described comprising a headed supporting bolt, a member through Which said bolt passes having at its top a flat surface to receive said head and on which said head rests and having a lug adapted to be contacted by said head Whereby relative rotatable movement of said bolt and member is prevented, a support on Which said member rests and is universally movable, and means carried by said member engaging said support to prevent relative rotative movement of said member and support.

9. A device of the class described comprising, a supporting bolt, means supported by said bolt, a nut on said bolt, a member on said bolt supported by said nut and contacting said means, said member being formed to engage said nut and prevent relative rotation of said nut and member and said member also having means loosely engaging said iirst mentioned means to prevent relative rotation of said member and said first mentioned means. K

l0. A draivbar builer having a'body yokelike in cross section and embracing a coupler shank, a bracket underlying said body and supporting the coupler shank, a pair of members supporting` said bracket having means thereon with ball and socket engagement with said body and also means thereon with ball and socket engagement With said bracket whereby said bracket can swing universally in a substantially horizontal plane, said member and means being held against rotative movement relative to each other.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, said means also being held against rotative movement relative to said body and brac ret, respectively.

l2. A drawbar buffer body yoke-like in cross section and embracing` a coupler shank, a bracket underlying said body and supporting the coupler shank, a pair of headed bolts, a member mounted on each of said bolts rest-- ing on said body and forming therewith a universal joint, the heads of said bolts resting respectively on said members, said bolts passing through said bracket, a member mounted on the lower end of each of said bolts on which said bracket rests and forming a universal joint with said bracket, and

nuts on said bolts on Which said last mening` the coupler shank, a pair of headed' bolts, a member' mounted on each of said bolts resting on said body and forming there- With a universal joint, the heads of said bolts resting respectively on said members, said bolts passing through said bracket, a member mounted on the lower end of each of said bolts on which said bracket rests and forming a `universal joint with said bracket,

and nuts yon .said bolts on which said last mentioned members respectively rest, said first mentioned members having means thereon engaging said body to prevent relative rotative movement of said members and body and said last mentioned mem-bers having means thereon engaging said bracket to prevent relative rotative movement of said members and bracket.

In testimony whereof I affixed my signature.

FRANKLIN L. BARBER. 

